Why does nobody talk about how long it takes to figure out oven calibration?

I spent three weekends baking test cookies and chasing a 50 degree offset before I realized my oven was running cold for the past 6 months. Has anyone else dealt with a baking project that just dragged on forever because of something dumb like a thermostat?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo64511h ago

My 1980s Kenmore oven took me four different thermometers to finally figure out it runs 30 degrees hot no matter what. I wasted a whole bag of flour on biscuit tests before I just started adjusting recipes down automatically. Your mileage will vary, but I bet half the baking fails people blame on themselves are actually just lying ovens.

-1

ryanh7756m ago

Swear to god, I spent two years thinking I was the worst baker alive before I tested my oven. Turned out it was running 50 degrees cold, so every cake I made came out like a hockey puck. Now I just tack 50 degrees onto everything and hope for the best. I’ve got a little sticky note right next to the knob that just says "add 50" in sharpie. Saved my biscuit game completely.